Cooper Bussmann expands Pondicherry unit

By Our Corporate Reporter

CHENNAI, OCT. 11. Cooper Bussmann India, a division of $4 billion Cooper Industries of the U.S, a leading producer of fuses and fusegear for protecting electronic and automotive systems, has set up its manufacturing facility in Pondicherry costing Rs. 17 crores.

The company acquired the fuse division of S & S Switchgear, which shared a common technology parentage with Brush of the U.K. in January 2000. It expanded the existing plant size acquired from S & S to 21,000 sq. ft from 10,000 sq. ft. The objective of the company was to manufacture the entire range of Bussmann fuses in India for meeting the requirements of the Indian market and for exports, said Mr. Martin G. Mullin, Operations Director, Cooper (U. K.) at a press conference here today. The company will be launching the entire range of fuses at Elecrama exhibition to be held in January 2002.

This new hi-tech facility in the tax-holiday zone of Pondicherry is undergoing its second phase of expansion. The new facilities have been set up according to world standards. The company, besides getting ISO 9000 accreditation, had obtained the prestigious ASTA certification (Association of short-circuit testing authority based in U. K in a short span of one year, Mr. Mullin said.

The company earmarked two third of its production for exports. There is ample scope for exporting the products worldwide as Bussmann plans to increase its activities in the Asia Pacific region over the next few years to establish stronger regional presence.

Mr. Del Parkinson, Manager, Product and Market Development (Europe and India) said the group has two business segments, electrical products and tools and hardware products.

The group has presence in 13 countries in five continents and is manufacturing and marketing fuse products, lighting and transformers.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Business
Previous : TVS-Suzuki to become TVS Motor Co.
Next     : Analysis of market asymmetries